Pear preparation machine



NOV. 30, 1943. l A, R, THOMPSON I l 2,335,620

PEAR PREPARATION MACHINE v Filed July 13, 1940 v 6 Sheets-Sheet l vif ATTORNEY Nov.. 30, 1943. A. R. THOMPSON PEAR PREPARATION MACHINE s sheets-sheet 2 Filed July 13, 1940 INVENTOR v ALBERT /2 moMpJo/v Nov.: 30, 1943. A. R, `ri-IMPsoN I 2,335,620

I PEAR PREPARATION MACHINE Filed July 1s, 1940 s sheets-Sheet 3' INVENTOR ALB/SP7' l?. THOMPJoN wwwa) ATTORNEY NoV. 3,-1943. A, R, THQMPSQN i .2,335,620

PEAR PREPARATION MACHINE Filed July 15, 1940 e sheetgwsheet 4 2f INVEN- roR ALBERT A. Thompson 76 BY ATToRN Nov. 30, 1943.l A. R. THOMPSON PEAR PREPARATION MASI-UNE 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 13, 1940 'l l l I l l I l I I n V. I l l l f l l l l l I l I l l v FIEJAL.

A INVENTOR ALBERT A. 7'HOMP50/V .uflq'- y ATTORNEY Nov. 30, 1943. A. THOMPSON 2,335,620

l PEAR PREPARATION MACHINE Filed July 13; 1940 e sheets-sheet e `67 Q9 INVENToRV4 ALBERT A. THOMAS-0N `TTORNEY Patented Nov. 30, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT `OFFICE to Food Machinery Corporation, Calif., a corporation of Delaware San Jose,

Application July 13, 1940, Serial No. 345,335 27 claims. (o1. iis-43) This invention relates to machines for preparing pears for canning.

In machines of this character the operator placesl the pears one after another in a feeding mechanism which introduces the pears into the machine proper where they are subjected to a series of operations such as trimming off the ends, peeling off the skin, removing the stem, core, and calyx, and finally splitting the fruit into halves. Y

The invention isdisclosed as embodied in a machine similar to that shown in the patent to A. R. Thompson et al., No. 2,139,704, issued Dec. 13, 1938. In this type of pear preparation machine the operations on the exterior of the pear are performed first and during this part of the preparation the pear is held impaled on a stemming tube. It is, therefore, the principal function of the feeding mechanism to take the pear from the operators hand and impale it on this stemming tube.

- One object of this invention is to provide a feeding mechanism which is adapted to receive the pears at a rapid rate; which does not require a material degree of skill and accuracy in the placement of the pear by the operator; and which cannot injure the operators hand.

Another object of the invention is to provide a. feeding mechanism which will'grasp the pear externally in such a way that when it is pre'- sented to the stemming tube the stem axis of the pear will be in alignment with the tube so that when the pear is pushed onto the tube it is accurately impaled thereon with its stem inside the tube.

In the drawings:

, Fig. 1 is a view taken from the right-hand side of the machine. The feeding mechanism is shown in vertical longitudinal section and the machine proper appears in the background. The transmission case at the left, which is the rearend of the machine, has been broken away toY show a section of the mechanism therein. 'I'he plane of the section through the feeding mechanism and the direction of view Ais indicated by the arrows I-I in Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the machine. The feeding mechanism is in the cylindrical housingrat the upper right, the rear wall of which has been broken away to reveal the mechanism within. The transmission case has also been broken away to show certain parts of the driving mechanism therein.

Fig. .3 shows the timing cam which is .on the. front side of the machine driving 'gear in the' transmission. 'Ihis controls the operation of the pear holders in the feeding mechanism so that they grasp and release the pears at the proper times.

Fig. 4 shows the back-lash eliminator for the Geneva wheel.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a gauge which assists the operator inv introducing the pear into the feeding mechanism.

Fig. 6 is a front elevation of the feeding mechanism taken as indicated by the line 6-6 in Fig. 1. The view is extended to the longitudinal center line of the machine to show parts of the peeling mechanism.

Fig. 7 is a rear elevation of the feeding mechanism taken as indicated by the line 1 1 in Fig. 1.

Figs. 8, 9, and 10 are side elevations of the feed mechanism with parts broken away. They* disclose different steps in the operation of the pear holder as it grasps the pear which the operator is introducing into the feeding mechanism.

Figs. 11 and 12 show how at the transfer point the pear is pushed out of the holder onto the stemming tube. The point of view is indicated at II-l'l in Fig. 6.

Figs. 13 and 14 are developments of cams used in the feeding mechanism.

Fig. 15 is a detail view of the ring which is pressed into Contact with the bulb of the pear.

Figs. 16, 17 and 18 diagrammatically show different stages of the operation of the feeding mechanism both in grasping the pear and in transferring it to the stemming tube.

For a complete disclosure of the pear preparation ma`chine in which this invention is embodied reference is to be had to the above-mentioned Patent No. 2,139,704, the disclosure of which is hereby made a part of thisedisclosure in so far as it is applicable. Accordingly, only the feed mechanism, which is intended to be substituted.

for the feed mechanism of the prior machine, will herein be described in detail together with such parts of the prior structure as are associated with and pertinent to the operation of the mechanism of the present invention.

To facilitate an understanding of the collocation of the mechanism, which presentlyfis to be disclosed in detail, a brief explanation of its environment, general construction, and superficial operationv will be given preliminarily.

The pear preparation machine has a numbern of instrumentalities which perform several suc-Vl cessive-operations on each pear as the pears pass through the machinel It vis onlynecessary for an operator to put the pears one after another in the feeding mechanism which automatically introduces them into the machine from which they are subsequently discharged as the finished product ready for canning. One of the first operations to which each pear is subjected is the peeling operation, and the machine is equipped for this purpose with a series of peeling units, one of which is shown at 45 in Fig. 1 and two of which are shown at 45 and it in Fig. 6.

As explained in the above-identified patent, a peeling unit, such as that shown at 45 in Fig. 1, removes strips of skin from the pear which is presented to the peeling unit for this operation by means of a hollow stemming tube I9 upon which the pear is impaled as indicated in broken lines in Fig. l. The stemming tube is mounted on an intermittently rotated turret H6, which serves to present the pear successively to the several peeling units and to other instrumentalities 'by executing a partial rotation after each operation has Ybeen performed on the pear. There is a series of these stemming tubes on the turret which makes it possible for the pears to be carried through the machine in a steady stream. The peeling units are mounted on the front of -a vcarriage E59 (Fig. 6) which reciprocates longitudinally with respect to a shaft -I l5. In Fig. 1 the carriage |59 has ar-rived Vat the end of ,its forward stroke Yand is about to return vto the left. The intermittent reciprocation of the carriage |59 and the intermittent rotation of the turret Iii alternate in each cycle of operation of the machine. The mechanisms which cause these movements of the carriage and turret are fully described in the above-mentioned patent but they will be again referred to in some detail in this disclosure when such reference becomes necessary to an understanding of the operation of the feeding mechanism.

The principal function of the feeding mechanism is to take the pears from the operators hand, carry them into the machine, and then impale them on the stemming tubes. This transfer Iof the pear from the feeding mechanism to the stemming tube takes place at the point indicated generally by the numeral 28 in Fig. 1, where the pear 2i) has just been impaled on a stemming tube 2i. During the continuous operation of the machine the feeding mechanism impales the pears one after another on successive stemming tubes as they are brought opposite the transfer position 29 by the intermittent rotations of the turret H6.

The operator stands on the right-hand side of the machine (Fig. 2) facing the feeding mechanism (Fig. 8). Much of the mechanism is enclosed in a cylindrical housing 'It which has been broken away to expose the interior. The operator introduces the pear 22 in the direction of the arrow 23 (Fig. 8), a rest 44 being provided to support the back side of the operator-s hand, and he places the nose of the pear in the bottom of a slot 25 in a gauge 25'! (Fig. 9) where he supports it until the lingers 3i, 92 of one of the pear holders grasp it. Then he releases the pear and picks up the next one. Meanwhile the pear holder lifts the pear out of the slot 25 (Fig. 6) and carries it away by a ciockwise rotation of a reel 29 on its shaft It. rhe reel 2Q (Figs. 6 and 7) has suitable arms and pads for supporting the pear holders, of which there are three. The reel 29 is periodically rotated a one-third revolution to carry the pears from the loading point 2S,

where the holders take them from the operators hand, to the transfer point 28, where they are impaled on the stemming tubes.

Proceeding now with the detailed description: The gauge 24 (Fig. 5) has a U-shaped slot 25 with a rounded lip 43. A hand rest 44 is provided to assist the operator in inserting the nose of the pear in the bottom of the slot 25. 'Ihe rest 44 with its guard 41 also protects the operators hand and prevents him from accidentally getting it in the way of moving parts. The rest 44 is formed in a large casting |24 (Figs. 1 and 2) which serves as the front end support of the feeding mechanism unit. The gauge 24 (Fig. 5) is adjustably mounted on the support I 24. A laterally-extending portion of the gauge has a ange 48 and shoulder 4,9 formed along its top edge which t the upper track of a guide way 51 formed in the support |24. As can be Seen, the bottom of the gauge is similarly formed to fit the lower track of the guide way 5?. The gauge is slotted at 6| to receive a screw H3 which is threaded into the support |24. The gauge is adjusted by sliding it left or right along the guide way 51 and securing it with the screw |3. This adjustment is provided to take care of the variation in the length of pears.

The three pear holders which will now be described are substantially identical in construction so that a part referred to in one holder is understood to exist in the other two holders as well.

While the operator is holding the pear with its nose resting in the bottom of the slot 25 (Figs. 5 and 6) two ngersl 32, which constitute parts of a pear holder, grasp the neck of the pear. The fingers center the -neck of the pear in their grip by reason of the complementary arcuate surfaces 33, 34 which contact the pear surface. When the pear has been carried around by rotation of the reel 29 (Fig. 6) to the transfer point 23 the fingers 3|, 32 are spread open to release their hold on' the pear when it is impaled on the stemming The fingers extend inwardly toward the reel 29 and then bend at a right angle so that their inner ends 35, 36 lie in a plane parallel t0 the reel shaft 39. In order to cause the ngers to close together and spread apart to grasp and release the pear, gear segments are formed on the inner ends at 31, 38 which engage the opposite sides of a double rack 42. In Fig. 1 the finger 32 has been removed by section so that the rack 42 may be seen in side elevation. The ngers 3|, 32 (Fig. 6) are pivotally mounted on screws 39. 49, which are threaded into the reel 29. A cover 4| is held over the gearing by the screws also.

When the rack 42 moves forward toward the reader in Fig. 6 the fingers 3|, 32 spread apart, as in the holder at the transfer point 29. When the rack moves rearward the ngers close together, as inthe holder at the loading point 26, to grasp the pear which the operator is holding with the nose resting in the slot 25 and with the stem axis approximately horizontal as in Fig. 9.

In addition to the fingers 3|, 32, each holder has a ring 59 (Fig. 10) which is moved forward into contact with the bulb of the pear by a spring 5| after the fingers have grasped the neck of the pear (Fig. 9). The forward end of the spring 5| is attached to an arm of the reel 29 at 52 and the rear end is attached to a hook 53 which is secured in the rear end of a push rod 54 mounted for sliding in bearings 55', 5B in arms of the reel 29.

The push rod 54 carries the ring 59.

The ring 50 is shown'diagrammatically in these views. Its detailed construction appears in Fig. 15. It comprises a seriesof freely rotatable fiber rollers 58 journalled on a .carrier ring 59 which is rigidly secured to the forward end of the push rod 54. The ring 59 is circular in cross-section and the` rollers 58 have circular holes therein. The ring is split at |33 to facilitate assembling the rollers 58 thereon and the ends |26, |21 of the ring are welded to a pin |23. The forward end of the push rod 54 (Fig. 12) is apertured to receive the pin |28 therein. It is also split at |35 and externally threaded to receive a nut |29, which serves to clamp the pin |28 in the end of the push rod 54.

When the push rod moves the ring forwardly (toward the readervin Fig. the rollers 58 contact the bulb of the pear and center it. Due to depressions and protuberances on the pear some of the rollers may not contact it but the use of a plurality of contactmernbers in a circle causes the ring to feel out the mean diameter, at the center of which the stem axis of the pear will be located. i Bearing this in mind and turning again to Fig. 6 it will be noted that the center of the ring 59 is on the same axis as a point 60 mid way between the arcuate surfaces 33, 34 on the fingers 3|, 32 and this axis will be substantially coincident with the stem axis of the pear when it has been grasped by the holder.

Therefore, when the holder has finally taken hold of the pear as shown in Fig. l0, it will grasp the pear so that the stern axis thereof is horizon.- tal and parallel to the axis of the reel 29 and this results from the fact that the fingers 3 l, 32 center the stem end of the pear axis when they grasp the neck and the ring 59 centers the butt end of the pear axis when it centralizes the bulb of the pear in its rollers. All the operator is required to do is to rest the nose of the pear in the gauge 24, and to hold it there until the fingers and ring grasp the pear and in so doing automatically position it with its stem axis horizontal. I have found that this method of grasping and holding the pear results in accurate positioning thereof. Pears individually differ in shape but. as a general rule, whatever their shape may be, the exterior contour of the pear is substantially symmetrical with respect to the stem axis of the pear.

Since the stem axis passes centrally through the. neck of the pear and also passes through the center of the bulb, I conceived the idea of obtaining the required positioning of the stem, not by entering the pear in search of the stem, but byv exterior contact at the neck and bulb.

While the fingers 3|, 32 (Fig. 6) are resiliently pressed into contact with the neck of the pear, as will be next described, it is to be borne in mind that the fingers are positively geared together by the segments 31, 38 in engagement with their common rack 42. It is, therefore, impossible for one finger to move more than the other. Their mutual movements are in opposite directions but always equal in amount. Consequently, the arcuate surfaces 33, 34 when closing on the pear, ap. y

preach their common center and axis iii) at equal rates, so that at any instant corresponding points in the two surfaces are equi-distant from the axis 69. It makes no difference whether one or the other surface touches the neck of the pear first.

If it does, it shifts the pear over until both sur- Y faces are touching. When this occurs the com-.- plementary surfaces 33, 34 are equi-distant from the axis and therefore the stem axis .of the pear is centralized in their grip.

The surfaces 33, 34 because of their curvature also have a camming action on the pear if it is positioned with itsaxis too far away ory too near the axis of the reell shaft 30. It will -be noted that the two arcuate surfaces 33, 34 are arranged on either side of andequidistant from a radial line emanating from the center of shaft 39 and passing through the center 69, so that the arcuate surfaces shift the stem axis ofthe pear radially of the reel if necessary to'bring the stem axis into coincidence with the axis 53.

As shown by Figs. 8 to 10 the fingers centralize and grasp the neck of the pear before the ring 5U moves up to cent1-alize the bulb. The result is that the ring 59 being urged axially against the pear not only shifts the bulb of thepear to align the stem axis but completes the grip on the pear by pressing it against the fingers" so that between them the fingers and the ring can hold the pear and carry it when the reel rotates.

The means for causing the holder to grasp the pear will now be described. The rack 42 which opens and closes the fingers is formed on the end of a push rod 52 (Fig. 10) which is mounted for sliding in the arms of the reel 29. It will be remembered that the three holders are substantially identical in construction. The push rod 52 in the upper holder (Fig. 1G) being visible, is referred to; however, there is a similar push rod in each of the other holders. A spring 63 interposed between the forward arm of the reel Aand a shoulder E4 on the rod urges the rod rearwardly to tend to close the fingers 3|, 32. A roller E5 is journalled on a pin ES carried by the rear end of the push rod. A cam B1 acts on this roller to push the rod forward to spread the fingers at the proper times. In Fig. 8 the cam Slis holding the fingers partially open at the loading point 25 so that the operator can introduce the neck of the pear therebetween. In Fig. 9 the cam is moving down from under the roller i5v and the fingers are closing on the neck of the pear. In Fig. l0v the cam has freed the roller and the fingers are grasping the pear resiliently.

The ring 5i) (Fig. l0), it will be recalled, is also urged into engagement with the pear by its spring 5|. It also is withdrawn and releasedby cam and roller. The roller 1G is mounted on a pivot 1i in a bracket 12 secured to the push rod 5G. The bracket has a fork 13 which en. gages a push rod 14, the function of which will presently be described, to prevent the ring push rod 54 from rotating in its bearings 55, 53 and to 4maintain the ring 59 properly centered at all times. rIghere are two cams with which the roller 19 comes into engagement.

One is the cam 15, which is semi-cylindrical in shape and is rigidly mounted in the bottomof the cylindrical housing 16 of the feed mechanism (Fig. 6). The housing 15 is rigidly secured tothe framework of the machine. As can be seen in Fig. 8 the cam edge of the cam 15 begins at 11 which is on the far side of the feed housing 16. The cam edge ends at 18. A dev-.- velopment of this stationary cam is shown in- Fig. 13. When the reel rotates, the roller 19. (which is on the ring push rod) rolls from 11 alongr the cammingedge 19 tothe land 18. 'lfhez function of this cam is to withdraw the ring preparatory to the loading operation which is being described, Vand the withdrawal takes place as the reel rotates to bring the holder up to the loading position 25 shown in Figs. 8, 9 and l0.

As the reel cornes to rest the roller 'l0 (Fig. 8) runs oif the end 'I8 of the stationary cam l5 onto the vertical edge 8| of a downwardly movable cam 80. This cam is also cylindrically shaped to fit inside the housing I6 as can be seen in Fig. 6. It has an inclined edge 82 (Figs. 8 to l0). When the roller I0 travels along the downwardly-moving edge 82 the ring 59 moves forwardly into engagement with the pear. The function of the cam 80 is to release the ring gradually so that it is brought gently into contact with the pear. In its nal position shown in Fig. 10 it has entirely freed the roller 'l0 so that the push rod 5-3 is solely under the influence of the spring 5|. To limit the forward move-- ment of the ring when no pear is placed in the feed mechanism the cam 80 has an extension S3 with which the roller 'l0 comes into Contact.

Both the cam 80 which releases the ring 50 and the cam 6l which permits the fingers to grasp the pear are mounted for movement in unison. That movement is a periodic oscillation about the reel shaft 30. The cam 00 is rigidly secured by means of a bridge 84 to an arm 85, the hub 86 of which is journaled on the reel shaft 30 but which is independent of the reel in its movements. An arcuate flange 91 formed on the hub has the cam 61 secured thereto. A crank 88 (Fig. 8) is formed integrally with the arm 05 and is connected by a crank pin 8S to a link 90 which extends out through an aperture 9| in the far wall of the housing. The link oscillates the cam operating arm 85 which, in Fig. 8, is at its extreme upper position, and, in Fig. l0, at its eX- treme lower position. In Fig. 9 it is at its intermediate position.

The link 00 (Fig. 2) extends across to the other side of the machine where it is pivotally connected to a crank |9| which is secured to a shaft 92 (Fig. 3) journaled in the frame of the machine. This shaft extends into the transmission case where it has secured thereto another crank 93 which has a roller S4 that follows a cam track 95. As shown in Fig. 3 the roller is in the maximum-radius portion 06 of the cam track which has an intermediate radius portion 9'! and a minimum radius portion 98. These three cam radii 96, 97, 98 position the arm 85 in the positions shown in Figs. 8, 9, and l0, respectively. When the arm 85 is in its tcp position in Fig. 8 the roller 9G is on the maximum radius portion 90 of the cam track 95 (Fig. 3). As the cam track 95 rotates in the direction of the arrow the roller 94 moves in to the intermediate radius portion 9'! and the arm 85 moves to the position shown in Fig. 9. When the roller arrives at 98, the arm 85 is in the bottom position shown in Fig. l0.

The cam track 95 (Fig. 3) is formed on the front side of the driving gear |00 which is rotated at constant speed by the driving pinion |0| (Fig. 2) on power shaft |02. For each revolution of the gear |00 the machine performs onev complete cycle of operations. Thus the operations of the cams for controlling the fingers and rings of the holders in the feed mechanism are timed with the other operations of the machine. The feed mechanism presents a pear to be irnpaled on a stemming tube at the proper time in each cycle as will appear from the following description.

The driving gear |90 has projecting from its vrear face toward the reader (Fig. 3) a driving pin 99 which enters the slots |03 (Fig. 2) of a Geneva wheel |04 to rotate it. There are six radial slots |03 spaced 60 apart so that for each revolution of the gear |00 the pin 99 rotates the geneva 60 and this rotation occurs during only a part of the cycle of gear |00, the Geneva wheel being locked against movement when the pin 99 is out of engagement with one of the slots |03.

The gear |00 has a segmental cylindrical flange |05 (Fig. 2) which moves into engagement with arcuate surfaces |06 intervening the radial slots |03 in the Geneva wheel when the pin leaves a slot. When the end |01 of, the flange is at dead center the geneva is unlocked for movement clockwise. This is to be desired when starting to rotate the geneva but the reverse condition occurs at the end of the rotation.

As shown in Fig. 2 the driving pin is just leaving the slot and the other end |08 of the flange is at dead center on the arcuate surface |06. The instant the pin leaves the slot the geneva could be rocked slightly counterclockwise because the ange |05 is not yet in full registry with the arcuate surface |06. It is essential to the dependable and accurate operation of the feed mechanism, as will presently appear, that back-lash of the geneva be eliminated at this time. For this purpose a plate |09 is secured to the gear |00 by screws. It has an arcuate edgeA ||0 (Fig. 4) that is flush with the flange |05 and another arcuate edge which moves into locking engagement with lugs ||2 attached to the Geneva wheel adjacent each slot |03. As shown in Fig. 2, the edge is coming into contact with the lug ||2 just as the pin 99 is leaving the slot. lt remains so until the flange is in complete register with the arcuate surface. Thus the Geneva wheel is locked against clockwise movement by the flange |05 and against counterclockwise movement by the edge of the plate |09 sliding along the lug |2.

The reason the Geneva Wheel |04 must be locked is that it drives, and therefore controls the position of, the turret on which the stemming tubes are mounted. The geneva is keyed to the rear end of a shaft 5 which passes longitudinally through the center of the machine. At its forward end the shaft H5 (Fig. 1) has secured thereto for rotation therewith the turret H6 which has six hollow stemming tubes, similar tov the tube 2|, secured around its rim at 60 intervals, which construction is disclosed in Patent No. 2,139,704. At the time that the pear 20 is` impaled on the tube 2| the turret is standing still and the back-lash eliminator on the geneva accurately positions the tube 2| and holds it.

immovably in this position while the pear is being impaled thereon to insure accurate placement of the pear with its stem axis in the tube.

The pear is carried to this position of transfer to the stemming tube from the position where the operator placed it in the holder by rotation of the reel 29. The reel derives its rotation from the turret which has a ring gear ||l (Fig. l) around its periphery. The teeth of the ring gear il engage with the teeth of a spur gear i i6. The hub i I9 of the gear 8 is elongated and provided with a ange |2@ for coupling to a flange |2| on the hub of the reel 29. The hub |119 is keyed to the reel shaft 39 which is supported in bearings |22, |23 in front and rear supports |211, |25 secured to the frame of the machine.

The rear support |25 (Figs. l and 2) has a peripheral ange |5| to which the cylindrical feed' housing 16 is rigidly secured. When the geneva |04 is turned, the turret rotates 60, and through the gears ||1, I I8 rotates the reel. The diameter of reel gear ||8 (Fig. 7) is one-half the diameter of turret ring gear 1 so that the reel is rotated 120. The three pear holders at 26, 21, 28 are located 120 apart on the reel, so that each pear is first rgrasped by the holder at 26, is then carried 120 to the top of the feed housing where it comes to rest at 21, and finally is carried another 120 to the position 28 from which it is transferred to the stemming tube on the turret.

In the top position 21 the nose of the pear is cut off by a circular knife |30 on the shaft |3| (Fig. 1) which is coupled to the armature shaft |32 of the motor |33 which supplies the power for operating the machine by means of driving connections in the housings indicated generally vat |46, all of which are disclosed in Patent No'. 2,- 139,704. A shearing ledge |34 supports the nose of the pear so that the knife |30 can make a clean cut. It will be understood that the pear is at this time held in the grasp of the ring 50 and fingers 3|, 32.

The next rotation of the reel carries the pear to the transfer position 28 where it is held with its stem axis in alignment with the stemming tube 2 I. It is now pushed onto the stemming tube by the push rod 14 which has a needle point |40 that enters the calyx of the pear. The push rod 14 is slidably mounted in bearings (such as |4I, Fig. 1) in the reel 29 and it has 'a collar |42 rigidly secured thereto. This collar is engaged by a jaw |43 which projects through a slot |45 in the feed housing and reciprocates therein.

The jaw |43 is secured to the reciprocatory carriage |50 which is reciprocated by means of a cylindrical cam way with which a constantlyrotating pin |52 engages. The carriage is constrained to reciprocatory movement by a pin |53 rigidly secured thereto and depending into a straight-line guide |54 secured to the base of the machine. The cam way |5I is an integral part of the carriage |50. The pin |52 is rigidly secured to land extends radially from the front end of a sleeve |55 rotatably mounted on the shaft I5 and driven by a gear |56 which meshes with a gear |51 (Fig. 2) secured to the shaft |58 of the main drive gear |00.

The cam way |5| (Fig. 1) is so arranged that a reciprocatory stroke is derived from the constantly-rotating pin |52 during the rest period of the turret I I6, i. e., while the Geneva wheel |04 (Fig. 2) is locked against movement. There is a dwell (not shown) in the camway |5| (Fig. 1) which holds the carriage at rest at the rear end of its stroke during the interval of rotation of the turret.

In all positions except the transfer position 28 where the collar |42 is in the jaw |43, the push rod 14 is held retracted by engagement of the collar |42 behind an annular ring |60 secured to the inside of the cylindrical feed housing 16. It

will be noted in Fig. rl that the collars |42 in the' holders at 26 and 21 are in engagement with the ring |60 but that the collar |42 in the holder at 28 is in the jaw |43 which projects in through the slot |45. The ring |60 terminates at the edges of this slot. The engagement of the collars with the ring is also shown in Figs. 8, 9 and 10. The engagement of the collar |42 in the jaw |43 can be seen in Figs. l1 and 12.

When the pear arrives at the transfer position Y the ring push rod 54 forwardly to press the ring 50 against the pear. However, the pear cannot move forwardly because it is grasped by the fingers.4 Accordingly, the fingers arecaused to release the pear, by a mechanism which will be described later. As the fingers spread open the ring pushes the pear forwardly and starts it onto the stemming tube 2| as shown in Fig. 11. The needle point is not yet in engagement with the calyx but the push rod 14 isy being slid forward by the jaw |43 on the reciprocating carriage |56. As the carriage approaches the end of its forward stroke the needle |40 engages the calyx and the pushrod 14 forces the pear onto the stemming tube as shown in Fig. 12. The ngers 3|, 32 are by this time spread wide open as shown in Fig. 6 at 28.

` The fingers are' opened by the cam 61 (Figs. 1, 2, 7 and 14) which is osoillated clockwise (Fig.

7) to engage the roller 65 of the holder at 23.

It will be noted in Fig.V 1 that the cam 61. in moving away from' the reader, engages the roller 65 and cams the push rod 62 forward. The rack 42 is on the forward end of the push rod 62 and it opens the fingers 3|, 32 because of its engagement Ywith `the'gear segments 31, 38 (Figs. land 6).

A development of the cam 61 is shown in Fig. 14. The'portion of the cam which engages a roller 65 as just described to open the fingers at the transfer point 28 is indicated at 68. It willbe noted in Figure '1 that the arcuate cam 61 has a zone of inuence that embraces the rollers 65 at both the loading point 26 and the transfer point 28. The throw of the cam at 68 (Fig.14) isdesigned to cause maximum displacement of the rack, so that the fingers are spread wide open at 28, Fig. 6, in order to permit the bulb of the pear to pass between them. The throw of the cam at 69 is less because the fingers need be held only partially open to permit introduction of Ytheneck of the pear therebetween at the loading point 26 (Figs. 5 and 8). When the cam 61 moves'to the left in Fig. 14, the roller 65 at the loading point 26 rolls ofi the tapered end and allows the fingers to grasp the pear.

After impaling the pear on theV stemming tube the push rod 14 (Fig. 12) is withdrawn by the rearward stroke of the carriage |50, the jaw |43 returning the collar |42 to its starting position where it is behind the plane of the ring |60. When the reel 29 rotates, the collar is carried out of the jaw and follows along the ring.

The rotation of the turret ||6 (Fig. 1) carries the pear 25 impaled on the stemming tube 2| away from the transfer point 28 and presents it to the first peeling unit 46 (Fig. 6). At the same time it positions the next `stemming Vtube at the transfer point ready to receive the next pear from the feed mechanism.

Figs. 16 to 1e illustrate diagrammatieauy the' I various operations of the holders in the feed mechanism. Thegeneral plan of these diagrams is the use of developments. The threeV stages.

of the operations here illustrated all take place while the carriage is reciprocating, asindicated by the different' positions of the driving` In Fig. v

is just arriving at the end of its rear stroke and the pin |52 is about to enter the dwell |59. While the pin is traveling through the dwell t return to the position in Fig. 16, the turret and reel rotate to shift the pears from one position to another. But from the position of pin |52 in Fig. 16 to its position in Fig. 18 the reel is standing motionless and the turret is locked to hold the stemming tube 2| accurately and rigidly in place to receive the pear.

' The A`holders at the loading position 25 and the transfer position 23 are shown because operations occur at both points simultaneously.' In order to avoid confusion a description of the operation at each point will be carried through the three figures separately. Thereafter, it is thought, the coordination of the operations at both points will be apparent from the illustrations.

` Beginning with the loading operation at 26 y (Fig. `16) Athe operator may introduce the pear into the holder because the fingers 3|, 32 are held partially open 'byreason of their gear segments 37, 38 engaging rack 42 on push rod 62 whose roller 65 is on the intermediate throw 69 ofv cam BT, and because the ring 50 is retracted by reason of the roller 'l0 on its push rod 5 4 being in contact with cam 80. Also the needle point il on push rod 14 is withdrawn by engagement of its collar |62 behind ring |60.

While the operator is holding the pear the fingers 3|, 32 closeon the neck of the Ypear as shown in Fig. 17 because the gear |00 rotates the cam thereon until the intermediate radius 91 engages the followerV 94 causing the linkage 93, 92, 19|, si) to move the cam El to the left and allowthe roller 65 to roll on the tapered end 69. Since the cam 61 and the cam 80 move in unison the cam 8|) is alsomoved to the left to bring thev inclined portion 82 into contact with the roller V'ill to release the 'ring 50 which moves forwardV against the bulb of the pear as shown in Fig.' 18. The roller 1|) is free of the cam 80 and theV roller 65 is free of the cam 61 in Fig. 18 so that the fingers 3|, 32 and the ring 5|)` have resiliently grasped the pear and centered its axis'. vfWhen the reel rotates they will carry the pear away to the right to the position 21 which itwas not thought necessary to show in this diagram'because the holder is then out of the zoneV in `which itis controlled by the cams.

Upon the next rotation of the reel thisV same pearwill be carriedI t0 the transfer point'28'. As shownV in Figi: 16, the pear is still held in the grasp of the fingers 3| 32 and the ring 56. During the rotation of the reel the gear Hill", which rotates constantly, moved the maximum radius portion 96 intoengagement with the cam'follower 94 to restore the cams 61 and 8S to their initial positions. 'It will be noted in Fig. 16 that the collar |42 is in the jaw |43la'nd that the carriage l is about to move forward. Also, the follower 94 is about to leave the maximum radius 96 for the intermediate radius 9i. When it doesvso theV cam 61 moves to the left and its end G8 cams theA roller 65 forward causing maximum displacenient of the push rod 62 which through its rack 42 spreads the fingers 3|, 32 wide open so that when'the needle point |40 (Fig.` 17) on push rod '14, pushes the' pear onto the stemming tube 2| the bulb of the pear can pass through the ngers. It will be understood by a comparison of Figs. 16 and 17 that the moment' the ngers start to spread Vopen the ring 5e pushes the pear onto the stemming tube a short distance so that thej pear is then held in position because its neck is impaled yon `the stemming tube and its bulb is still centered in the'rin`gL` Then 'the needle lpoint pierces lthe calyx 'and supports'the butt of the pear in axial alignment as the push rod 'iii pushes the pear all the way onto the Yfsten'irning' Upon the return movement'o'f the carriage |150 (Fig.v 13)" the needle point Mii is withdrawn thev pear and the jaw Ui@ positions the collar |42 so that when the reelV rotates the collar Wili fellow the ring When 'the reel rotates'after the transfer' operation the roller 'whichv controlled the operation vof the fingers 3 i, attire transfer point 2 3 Vrolls to the right in Fig'. 18 and upon arrival atiii' (Fig. 1S) has partially closed the fingers preparatory to the loading operation atI 26. rIhe ringV ed is retracted during'the rotation of thereelby the roller lil following the stationary cani'l which switches it onto the movable cam 8@- 'While I have described a particular embodiment of the'present inventiomit will lbe obvious that various changes and modifications may be. made inthe details thereof without departing from the spirit of the present invention and the scope of the appended claims. v

' 4Having thus described my invention and in what manner theI same may be'used, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is: l

1. A pear preparation machine having peeling means for removing the sk inof the pears, and feeding mechanism for introducing the pears into said means, saidfeeling mechanism comprising, a framework, a reel rotatably mounted in,

' said framework, a plurality of pear holders mounted on said reel andAv successively presented. thereby to a loading point, which point is fixed with respect to said framework, a gauge attached to said framework at the loading point, said gauge having a U-shaped slot the bottom of which is ysemi-circular to provide a rest for the nose of the pear, each pear holder including two fingers interconnected for equalized movement, said" lingers having complementary arcuate'. surfaces which contact the pear externally at the. neck, corresponding points in said two surfaces being equidistant from a common center, said center being in alignment with the center of said..

semi-circular bot/tom of said slot when the holder is presented at the loading point.

2. AA pear preparation machine having peeling means` for removingV the skin, ofthe pears, and' feeding mechanism for introducing the pears into saidvmeans, said feeding mechanism 'comprising' a flxedkf'ramework, a reel rotatablyl mounted in said framework, a plurality of pear holders.

mounted on said reel and successively presented thereby to a loading point, which point is fixed with respect to said framework, a gauge attached` to said fr ameworkJ at the loading Y point, said gauge having a U-shaped slot the bottom of which is semi-circular to provide a rest for the nose of the pear, each lpear holder including two fingers.

ing through said finger center and said gauge .means for removing the skinof the pears, and

feeding mechanism for introducing the pears into said means, said feeding mechanism including a fixed framework, a plurality of pear holders which are successively presented to a loading point, said point being fixed with reference to said framework, each holder including two fingers which grasp the neck of the pear and a contact ring which presses against the bulb of the pear, a gauge attached to said framework at the loading point having a U-shaped slot in which the operator of the machine places the nose of the pear before said fingers grasp the neck, and a rest integral .with said framework for supporting the operators hand while he is holding the pear for engagement of the bulb thereof by said ring.

.4. A pear preparation machine having peeling means for removing the skin of the pears and feeding mechanism for introducing the pears into said means, said feeding mechanism including a xed framework, a plurality of pear holders winch are successively presented to a loading point, said point being fixed with reference to said framework, each holder including two members which close together to grasp the pear, and a gauge attached to said frame work at the loading point having an aperture in which the operatorl of the machine places the nose of the pear to position the pear for seizure by said members.

5. A pear preparation machine having peeling means for removing the skin of the pears and feeding mechanism for introducing the pears c into said means, said feeding mechanism including a fixed framework, a plurality of pear holders which are successively presented to a loading point, said point being fixed with reference to said framework, each holder including two members which close together to grasp the pear, and a gauge having an aperture in which the operator of the' machine places thev nose of the pear to position the pear for seizure by said members, saidV gauge being adjustably secured to said framework at the loading point, the adjustment being a translatory movement of the gauge to vary the spacing between said aperture and said members to allow for variation in the length of pears. v

A(i. A pear preparation machine having a turret Vequipped with stemming tubes, a carriage intermittently reciprocated in a line parallel to said tubes, a feeding mechanism comprising a.

cylindrical housing, a reel within said housing, said reel being intermittently rotated between the intermittent reciprocations of said carriage, a plurality of pear holders mounted on said reel which are thereby successively presented to said tubes at a point of transfer, each pear holder comprising means for grasping the pear externally and positioning its stem axis parallel to said stemming tubes, a push rod associated with each holder and slidably mounted in said reel, a'center carried by each push rod in alignment with the calyX of the pear, a collar on each push rodan aperture in said housing adjacent the point of transfer,`a jaw on said carriage projecting into said aperture, and a ring secured inside said housing and serving to engage said col- 'la'rs and maintain said push rod retracted eX- ceptwhen opposite said aperture at Which time is in said jaw.

7. A pear preparation machine, having a turret equipped with stemming tubes, a carriage intermittently reciprocated in a line parallel to said tubes, a feeding mechanism comprising a plurality of pear holders mounted on an intermittently-rotated reel which successively present the pears to said tubes at a point of transfer, the rotations of said reel alternating with the reciprocations of said carriage, each pear holder comprising means for grasping the pearv externally and positioning its stem axis parallel to said stemming tubes, a push rod associated with each holder and slidably mounted in said reel in alignment with the stem axis of the pear, i and a temporary connection, comprising a part, on said carriage and another part on each push rod, which connection is established at the conclusion of each rotation of said reel, said con-A nection serving to impart the reciprocation of said carriage to the push rod associated with the holder at the point of transfer.

8. A pear preparation machine having a turret equipped with stemming tubes, a carriage `intermittently reciprocated in a line parallel to said tubes, a feeding mechanism, comprising a reel intermittently rotated between the intermittent reciprocations of said carriage, a plu-v rality of pear holders mounted on said reel which are thereby successively presented to said tubes at a point of transfer, each pear holder cornprising ngers resiliently grasping the neck of the pear and a contact ring spring-urged against the bulb of the pear, means includinga cam actuated when the holder has arrived at the transfer point to spread said fingers apart so that said contact ring can spring-press the pear part way onto the stemming tube, and a push rod reciprocated by said carriage to thereafter force the pear the rest yof the way onto the stemming tube.

9. A pear preparation machine having peeling means for removing the skin of the pears, and feeding mechanism for introducing the pears into said means, said feeding mechanism comprising a stationary framework, a reel mounted therein for rotation, a plurality of pear holders mounted on said reel and successively presented to a transfer position and then to a loading position by rotation of said reel, said positions being fixed with respect to said framework, each of said holders including a contact ring, a spring urging said ring into env gagement with the bulb of the pear, a cam xed to said framework to positively retract the and feeding mechanism for introducing the pears u into said means, said feeding mechanism comprising a stationary framework, a reel mounted therein for rotation, a plurality of pear holders l mounted on said reel and successively presented to a transfer position and then to a loading position byrotation of said reel, said positions being fixed with respect to said framework, each of said holders including a contact ring, a spring urging said ring into Yengagement with the bulb of the 1 the collar of the push rod at the transfer point' pear, and a cam fixed to. said framework to positively retract said ring against the action of said spring when the holder is moved by rotation of said reel from the transfer position to the loading position.

1l. A pear preparation machine having means for removing the skin of the pears, and feeding mechanism for introducing the pears into said. means, said feeding mechanism comprising a stationary framework, a reel mounted therein for rotation, a plurality of pear holders mounted on said reel and successively presented to a loading position by rotation of said reel, said loading position being lixed with respect to said framework, each of said holders comprising lingers adapted to engage the neck of the pear, said fingers being interconnected for equalized movements, a spring-urged actuator for said lingers, a contact ring for engaging the bulb of the pear, a spring-urged actuator for saidv ring, and cam means movable with respect to said reel to control the operation of said actuators to cause the ring and fingers of each holder to close upon a pear when the holder is at the loading position.

12. In a pear preparation machine, a pear holder having a ring of spaced apart contacts for engaging the bulb of the pear, and a pushrod to support said ring mounted for reciprocation along a line parallel to the stem axis of the pear.

13. In a pear preparation machine, a pear holder having a ring of spaced apart contacts for engaging the bulb of the pear, a push rod to support said ring mounted for reciprocation along a line parallel to the stem axis of the pear, a spring urging said push rod toward the pear, and cam means to positively move said push rod away from the pear.

14. In a pear preparation machine, a pear holder comprising lingers adapted to grasp the neck of the pear externally, and a plurality` of substantially-identical Contact members mounted ina ring and adapted to Contact the bulb of the pear.

15. In a pear preparation machine, a pear holder comprising lingers adapted to grasp the neck of the pear externally, and a plurality of rollers mounted on a ring and adapted to con.

tact the bulb of the pear.

16. In a pear preparation machine, a pear holder comprising a ring adapted to t against:

the neck, and a ring of less diameter than the bulb of the pear adapted to Contact thebulb of the pear exteriorly.

18. -In a pear preparation machine a pear holder having two pivoted lingers for gripping the neck of the pear, non-intermeshing gear teeth on said lingers, and a rack engaging said gear, teeth on both said lingers for actuating said lingers whereby the play between the rack and gear teeth is equalized` to effect accurate equaliaed movement of said lingers.

19.111 a pear preparationv machine a pear holder having two pivoted lingers for gripping. the neck of the pear, non-intermeshing, gear teeth on saidfingers, a rack engaging said gear teeth on both said lingers for actuating said lingers, a spring urging said rackin a direction to cause accurate equalized movement of saidlingersto gripA the pear, and a cam tol positively move said rack in the opposite direction.

20. A pear preparation machine having means for removing the skin of the pears, and a feeding mechanism for introducing the pears into said means, said feeding mechanism includ-ing a rotatable pear` holder, said rotatable pear holder comprising a plurality of pear positioning and aligning members adapted to contact the pear exterior at the neck thereof, and a pear center-V ing ring on said' rotatable pear holder adapted to litr about and hold the butt side of the bulb of theA pear exteriorly thereof and cooperating with said aligning members to position and align the pear with the stem blossom axis thereof'inV a. pre-n determined position.

21. A pearv preparation machine having means for removing the skin of the pears, and feeding mechanism for introducing the pears into said means, said feeding mechanism including a rotatable reel, a plurality of pear holders. carried by said reel, each of said pear holdersv comprising a ring` adapted to fitagainst ther bulb of the pear,

" and two lingersA interconnected; for equal movement toward the stem axis of the pear, said fingers having opposed arcuate surfaces adapted to contact the neck of the pear onA opposite sides, said surfacesl being arranged so that correspond,- ing points in the two surfaces are equi-distant from a radial line emanating from the axis of rotation of said reel.

22. A pear preparation machine having means` for removing the skin of the pears, and feeding mechanism for introducing the pears into said means, said feeding mechanismincluding a pear holder, said pear holder comprising fingers having complementary arcuate surfaces to Contact the neck of the pear, said lingers being interconnected for mutual action by means of a common actuator, a ring of rollers adapted to contact the bulb of the pear, a push rod to support and position said ring, and a spring connected to said" push rod to press sai'd" ring into contact with the pear.

23. A pear preparation machine having means for removing the skin of the pears, and feeding mechanism for introducing the pears into said means, said feeding mechanism comprising a rotatable reel, pear holders mounted on said reel, each of said holders comprising a pair of lingers having complementary arcuatesurfaces to contact the neck of the pear, said lingers being pivoted--onsaid reel and having gear segments in mesh with a rack slidably mounted'v on said. reel, and a ring. of spaced-apart contacts for engaging they bulbof the pear, said ring being supported on a'. push rodslidably mounted. on said reel for move-.l

mentparallel to ythestern axis ofthe pear.

24. In a Dear preparation machine, means for cutting off thenose of the pear comprising a pearl holder, including lingers resiliently grasping thev pear externally. at the neck, and acontact ring spring-urged against the bulb of the pearand a knifeto cut olf the nose of the pear, the plane of action of said knife being disposed outside said lingers, whereby said fingers maintain their grip upon the pear after the nose has beenl cut therefrom by said knife.

25... Apear preparation machine having peeling means for removing the skin of the pears, and feeding mechanism` for introducing the pears into said means,4 said. feeding mechanism comon, each of said holders including two lingers interconnected for equal movement and provided with complementary arcuate surfaces for contacting the neck of the pear externally, and a Contact ring adapted to` engage the bulb of the pear, said fingers and ring serving to position the axis of the pear parallel to the axis of rotation of said reel, and a rotary knife positioned with its plane perpendicular to said axis of rotation of said reel and outside said fingers, whereby upon rotation of said reel said knife will cut off the nose of the pear and said holder will maintain its hold upon the pear during and after the operation of cutting oii the nose.

26. A pear preparation machine having a turret equipped with stemming tubes, a reel having pear holders mounted thereon, said reel being geared to said turret so that intermittent rotations cause said pear holders to be successively positioned opposite successive stemming tubes at a transfer point, a push rod mounted in said reel adjacent each holder and positioned in axial alignment with a stemming tube when the reel and turretI come to rest, said push rod being adapted to be reciprocated to force the pear axially onto the stemming tube, a second push rod slidably mounted in said reel parallel to each of said rst push rods, a contact ring on said second push rod, said ring constituting a part of one of said pear holders, and a fork secured to said second push rod and embracing said rst push rod to maintain the center of said ring in alignment with the axis of said first push rod.

27. A pear preparation machine having a series of stemming tubes on which the pears are to be impaled, and a feeding mechanism for presenting the pears successively to said tubes with the stem of the pear in axial alignment with the tube, comprising a rotatable reel, having its axis of rotation parallel to said stemming tubes, pear holders 0n said reel, each holder comprising two fingers having complementary surfaces thereon adapted to contact opposite sides of the neck of the pear, said ngers being interconnected for equalized movement so that corresponding points in said complementary surfaces are always equidistant from an imaginary point whose position is fixed on a radius of said reel, and a contact ring mounted on a rod slidable in said reel so that the center of said ring moves along a line parallel to the axis of rotation of said reel, said line when extended passing through said imaginary point, whereby said ring. and said fingers in grasping the pear position it with its stem axis parallel to the axis of said reel and the reel in rotating carries the holder to the stemming tube where the holder presents the pear to the stemming tube with the stem axis of the pear in y axial alignment with the stemming tube.

ALBERT R. THOIWPSON. 

